Rybakina dominates Fernandez to retain Ningbo open title and claim fourth trophy of the season

World number one Elena Rybakina secured her fourth title of the season on Sunday with a commanding straight-sets victory over Leylah Fernandez in the Ningbo Open final.

The top seed and defending champion produced a dominant performance to defeat the Canadian world number 30 by 6-2, 6-2, successfully defending her crown in impressive fashion.

The victory earned Rybakina her 15th WTA Tour title and further strengthened her position in the race for the year-end world number-one ranking.

Speaking during the trophy ceremony, the Moscow-born Kazakh expressed her appreciation for the support she received throughout the tournament.

“Thank you all you guys for an amazing atmosphere,” Rybakina said. “Every day it’s amazing to play in front of you. It gives a lot of motivation and energy to keep on going.”

She also highlighted her connection with the tournament, adding: “A second win here, it’s such a special place for me.”

Rybakina Takes Control from the Start

Rybakina established her authority early in the opening set, breaking Fernandez’s serve before consolidating the advantage with a superb two-handed crosscourt backhand to move ahead 4-2.

The defending champion continued to apply pressure, forcing Fernandez into errors and securing another break when the Canadian sent a shot into the net.

With a 5-2 advantage, Rybakina maintained her composure and closed out the opening set without dropping a game on serve in the final stretch, sealing it to love in under 40 minutes.

The result reflected the top seed’s control of the match, as she used her powerful groundstrokes and consistent serving to limit Fernandez’s opportunities.

Fernandez Struggles to Stop the Champion

Fernandez entered the final hoping to claim her second title in as many months, but she struggled to find a response to Rybakina’s aggressive approach.

The Canadian was broken again early in the second set as Rybakina moved into a 2-1 lead, placing the defending champion firmly in control of the contest.

Fernandez attempted to fight back and earned two break points in the fourth game, but Rybakina held her nerve to protect her serve and maintain her advantage.

That crucial hold further weakened Fernandez’s challenge, allowing Rybakina to dictate the rallies and continue pushing forward.

The Kazakh secured another break to move 5-2 ahead, leaving herself within touching distance of retaining the trophy.

Rybakina Seals Fourth Title of the Season

Rybakina showed no signs of letting the opportunity slip away, finishing the match on her first championship point with a powerful forehand winner.

The victory was particularly satisfying after she missed the Wuhan Open earlier in the month because of a foot injury.

By successfully defending her Ningbo Open crown, Rybakina added another milestone to an impressive season that has included triumphs at the Australian Open and US Open.

For Fernandez, the defeat ended her hopes of securing consecutive titles, but her run to the final provided another positive result in a season that has seen her remain competitive on the WTA Tour.

Rybakina, meanwhile, leaves Ningbo with another trophy and renewed momentum as the season approaches its conclusion.